Sick

I might have to buckle down and find a doctor here.

And I might have strep.

:(

A Slow Saturday

Woke up.

Lingered in warm bed after seeing temp was -2.

Cuddled with Pups for copious amount of time today.

Cleaned here and there.

Organized papers.

Sorted receipts.

Ordered pizza.

Started making spreadsheets a few hours ago.

Make that "attempted."

Still have no clue what I'm doing with them.

Got grumpy.

Took Tumblr and blogging break.

Still grumpy.

Going to work on finances a bit more.

Going to get more grumpy.

Going to give up and go read before going to bed.

Fun and excitement abounds here, folks...

The Daily Bread Business

My Monday morning initially started great. After all, I was as early as I had planned on being for a change!Yes, I was on top of the world.

Well, every good story needs conflict, including the story of Monday morning. Enter frozen car doors.

And when I say frozen, I mean frozen.

It was in midst of pulling, pulling, pulling (and maybe a kick or two for good frustration-relieving measure) that I recalled turning off the heat on my way home from the store Friday....thus deeming hitting the auto-start button when I took my dog out ineffective. Way to go, self, I grumpily thought.

So I was the girl in the parking lot who felt like a pretty awesome and capable functioning 23 year old just 2 minutes before but who now was reduced to being ticked off at a car. Did I mention embarrassed? And did I mention hurt ego? Oh, and the morning duty I have this week in the cafeteria? Yeeeaaah. And there may have been some tears.

One of my neighbors saw I was distressed and came to see what was up. While I ran in to call school, she talked to another neighbor. He patiently poured de-icer on my door and got it open. Then he was nice enough to pour some on my windshield so I didn't have to scrape it. After that my two neighbors helped push my car out of the ice it was stuck in, but it wasn't until they were joined by a third that we got it out.

Oh my.

What could I do right then and there but give them huuuuuge hugs and a promise to make them all cookies? I was overwhelmed by how amazingly helpful they were, and I dashed off to school to be greeted by my kids (who said, btw, "Hi! You're late.").

It wasn't until later when Aaron asked what the highlight of my day was that I stopped short. "The car trouble," I replied. I had to explain that it was a huge lesson of how necessary it is to let other people help, but an even bigger lesson on selflessness. I'd probably still be lashing out at my frozen shut and stuck car right now had it not been for my neighbors.

I think the most beautiful part was the timing of this. Just last week I came across Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and was floored. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength,"it says. I sat for a while contemplating what that kind of love of God looks like, and prayed for Him to help me know it.

My friends, it's safe to say that Monday's serving of daily bread was a pure example of exactly what that looks like.

"Give us this day our daily bread" Lord,

and help us learn from it, too.

Wondering...

where my time goes sometimes.

This entire day seriously sped by me at about a million miles per hour. Insane.

But I have a story from this morning that I'm so excited to write about and share. Actually kinda bummed that I don't have time tonight.

Alas, school things and sleep await.

The story must wait a bit longer.

My mom summed it up perfectly for me with perfect timing when she just now texted me. "They don't call 'em Manic Mondays without reason." [Look, Ma, you made it into the blog AGAIN! (She gets kind of excited when that happens. True story.)]

Oi.

A Song for Thought

I finally downloaded an album I've been thinking about getting for oh, only months now...and it's been on repeat all day. Jack Savoretti's Between the Minds. Oh, SO good!

I like the mellow sound of his music, but I also adore his lyrics. He's another one of those gifted artists who is truly brilliant with how he puts together words.

This is one of my favorite songs from the album.

What I Have Stuck In My Head Every February 2nd

It's a family favorite.

Mostly filmed in Woodstock, IL.

And my grandpa, my dad, my brother, and I definitely have been to that restaurant before. :)

I think my favorite part of today may have been my kids turning into groundhogs to check for their shadows. It was a good time. I love impromptu lessons and silly ideas!

But if they turn into them again tomorrow, I don't think it will be as cute. Today wasn't bad, but I just don't want to relive it over and over and over and over and over again. I'll leave that to Bill Murray.

Randomocity

I have to be honest: the YouTube video immediately following this paragraph makes me laugh so hard every time I think about it. Think of me what you will, I think it's absolutely hilarious.

Secondly, I just found this picture and think that a) this is a motto I've been living by this school year and b) the puffin is just so darn adorable, it can make anyone's day brighter.